I didn't have much to say about foody indulgences as there's nothing in particular that we obsess about once December arrives! So I went with what's new this year and my hopes for the future.
TFL!
Bernie x

Saturday, 9 December 2017

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.”

"She says, "This is the way of all flesh."

And Gabriel answers, "But you are about to see the ways of God."

Mary says, "No baby was ever conceived without a man as father."

And Gabriel answers, "This baby's father shall be no man, his father shall be God."

Mary says, "In every child the characteristics of both parents are manifest together."

And Gabriel agrees: "Yes, Jesus will be flesh like you - and like God he will be holy, truly the Son of God."

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

"So now, the Word. The very first word of the Herald from heaven,announcing the child to come.

Who is he? Who IS this Mercy, soon to be born among us?

Why! He shall be a king! He shall be THE king whom God has promised a thousand years earlier to David - not only a king LIKE David, but a king to fulfill all that David represented. For David was a king bounded by time and space. His reign existed within the history of humankind.

But this King shall gather time and space into his kingdom, and shall himself embrace the history of humankind, for of his kingdom "there will be no end."

David was anointed a son of God. David was adopted: "He said to me, 'You are my son, today I have begotten you.'" (Psalm 2:7). But this one will be BORN "Son of the Most high.""

The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God.

"...look around: are we more fearful at the prospect of angels than the world is? Aren't we blithe this Christmas too? Heedless? Jaunty even, to the point of self-satisfaction ?

But here in a child comes God, the Light! And light in darkness is a frightening thing ("People loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil" John 3:19). O my friend, a self-examination both humble and true must cause us to tremble before the living God...be "greatly troubled" at the appearing of angels.

But even as we feared, so do we rejoice when we hear the light say, "Don't be afraid. I have not come to punish but to give you life. I am no judge. I am the Saviour born for you."

Luke 1:26-27In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.TFL!Bernie x

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! But now, since you didn't believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.

When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home.

"How do we react to the promises God makes unto us? In delight do we seek a keepsake? Or in doubt do we demand proofs?

...God is faithful. God is trustworthy. God is unlike the world altogether. Unto faith, God grants signs in abundance: rainbows, pillars of fire and cloud...and this sign: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

Now if Zechariah were trusting the good news of the messenger, Gabriel's next words would fill him with immortal delight, for by them the old priest would realise that he is seeing the one who sees the face of God...But Zechariah is MIStrusting, DISbelieving. His question is meant literally. "How shall I know this? By what proof shall I know the truth of this news?"

"I stand in the presence of God" in this care sounds terrible, for it means: God sends this news! It is God whom you mistrust!

...the Lord says, "Surely I am coming soon." (Rev. 22:20). And what do you say to that promise? Jesus says, "I am coming soon!" And how do you respond?"